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In the spotlight

It was back in 2010 when a new beast emerged in Essen, Germany, by two extraordinary artists Din-Tah Aeon and Nino Sable. Named Aeon Sable it forever changed everything that we thought we knew about dark rock and goth music. The creativity and dexterity of the two musicians, involved in several projects of the German underground scene since 1997, has allowed them to travel to seductively-surprising territory creating an alluring, dark atmosphere that continues to command the attention of the fans in Europe and worldwide. Din-Tah Aeon (guitars, programming, production, instrumentalist-songwriter) and Nino Sable (vocals, lyrics, production, songwriter, graphics and media designer) started Aeon Sable as a studio project only and released the debut album named Per Aspera Ad Astra in February 2010 through Af-music. The album, which was still pretty much influenced by goth rock giants like Fields Of The Nephilim and The Sisters Of Mercy, especially the songs like goth rock monuments "Exodus" or "Sever", on the other side already showed some unique and modern elements ("Agnosia", "At The Edge Of The World") that divided the gothic rock scene, goth elitists never really accepted the sound of Aeon Sable, but those who found goth/dark rock becoming a bit boring and repetitive, gave Aeon Sable a chance.

Album of the month - December 2018

Súl Ad Astral is different, still it can be roughly labeled as blackgaze, but in reality it's way more than just that. The music of this act is simply transcedental, such a cohesive, lush and flowing blend of many forms of blackened and atmospheric metal. Oasis is an adventure, it's as emotional as it's intense, it can be extreme in one moment and deeply sensitive in another. Stephen and Michael guide the listener through eight tracks, some of them are proper epic creations, with such a sense for sonic harmony that it simply grabs the listener and it doesn't let go so easily. Elements of black metal are used as a basis, but post-rock, shoegaze, death/thrash metal, doom metal, heavy, progressive metal and yet more are so smoothly connected between each other. All of the tracks on this album are as well from the compositional point true masterpieces, Súl Ad Astral have that much needed creative vein to make perfect dramatic building up in tension songs that are so very dynamic and technically perfective as much as they are smooth. Súl Ad Astral are a true revelation in the field of everything blackened in metal music.

Aeon Sable - Saturn Return: We had to wait for probably one of the greatest gothic rock releases till the end of the year. Aeon Sable are not afraid to experiment, but this record in comparison to their debut is more compact, it has an elaborated, perfected style and sound. Read a review HERE. Link: Website

Kreuzweg Ost - Gott Mit Uns: Michael "Silenius" Gregor, better known from atmospheric black metal band Summoning, shows with the third album of his martial industrial side project Kreuzweg Ost that he's a master also in creating atmospheric, yet disturbing sonic madness. Read a review HERE. Link: Website

Monica Richards - Naiades: Who doesn't know this artist who is the muse of all dark music, from her work in legends Faith And The Muse? Naiades, what to add more..., albums like this should be a joy for every fan of quality dark music. Read a review HERE. Link: Website

Moonspell - Alpha Noir/Omega White: Moonspell have been around for more than twenty years and therefore their discography has everything, from crown jewels of raw metal, to more soft and melodic releases. This album shows both sides, separated in two amazing parts. Read a review HERE. Link: Website

Sun Devoured Earth - Sounds Of Desolation: Sounds Of Desolation is a compact piece of twelwe atmospheric and dark tracks that are flowing nicely, without unnecessary experiments is giving to devoted listener a fantastic musical journey into mysterius dark world that Vadim Vasilyev is crafting for us. Read a review HERE. Link: Website

Whispers In The Shadow - The Rites Of Passage: Gothic rock mastery! Well crafted atmospheric and deep emotional tunes with alternative personality and touch of eastern vibes, certainly puts this album among the highlist of 2012 and this band as one of the most consistent acts in this genre. Link: Website